Monique Miller of Londonderry spoke of her 23-year-old son Tyler who waited in the Emergency Room for nearly three weeks because of a shortage of beds at New Hampshire Hospital.

“I’m begging you the mental health services in New Hampshire have become inhuman – and almost non-existent," Miller said with tears. "When you ignore the mental health problem, they don’t go away, they become part of another crisis, suicide, homelessness, drug addiction.”

Miller says her son battles schizophrenia. She told lawmakers that a lack of treatment has delayed his recovery.

More than a hundred people signed up to speak at Monday's public hearing on the state budget.

Credit Paige Sutherland/NHPR

Substance abuse spending also drew many speakers. Dean LeMire, who works at a treatment center in Concord and is in recovery, focused on funding for the state’s alcohol fund.

“The names behind those votes will have to answer for increased deaths and financial burden to the state after once again putting politics before reason," LeMire said

House budget writers have until April to finish their version of the state spending plan. Then the Senate gets its turn.

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